There have been a number of political stories of interest, both local and national, over the past few days. Some random thoughts......
Public Defender:
The caterwauling about "the process" masked the fact that the person most responsible for politicizing the issue was David Gantt. Harry Bronson gets my nod as Best Actor in a Hypocritical Role (just beating out Monroe Bar Assn. President, Tom Smith) for his portrayal of a concerned and moral legislator who "just wanted to do the right thing". Of course, Bronson and Smith were quite content with Legislature President Wayne Zyra's "process" until Mr. Gantt "reminded" them that it was an evil Republican process. Republicans......bad!
Meanwhile, someone tell Jim Lawrence that its Zyra, not Zayre (Zayre was a discount store, Zyra is the Leg. President).
Gunning for Robach:
The three pretenders to Robach's throne all used the PD issue to get "face time" in the media. They were falling all over each other trying to be the most "outraged" at the insensitivity of the GOP legislature majority. Sandy Frankel gets my pick for best use of hyperbole for her statement that the Legislature's restriction on public input was "the way they did things in Russia". Note to Ms. Frankel: In Russia, if they wanted to keep you quiet, they killed you or sent you to the gulag; you certainly didn't hold a news conference.
School Funding:
Former Lt. Governor, Stan Lundine, now chairing the Governor's task force on ways to curb local government spending, was quoted as favoring giving the State Education Commissioner power to consolidate school districts over the objection of taxpayers in the affected districts. In a D&C report this morning, citing an Elmira Star-Gazette article, Lundine was quoted as saying "We need a hammer as well as incentives" regarding the power he wants the State to wield. He also said "I understand that people want to have democracy...". He may understand that they want it, but he apparently doesn't think they should have it. Additional note to Ms. Frankel: This is the way they did things in Russia.
Obama's Winning Streak:
I continue to be amazed by Obama's success. Never has a candidate gone so far while saying so little. His two watchwords are "change" and "hope". Well, I just hope the changes he will make if he's elected won't ruin the country. Meanwhile, I wouldn't count Hillary out just yet. She may not win, but she won't go quietly, of that I'm sure.
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5 comments:
Where did we all go wrong? From a community that worked together where elected leaders from both parties found duty and satisfaction in working for the people, to our current partisan politics with a line drawn in the sand. At the height of cooperation our Mayor and the County Executive collaborated on laws that crossed party lines. What happened next was the birth of an idea, the idea was and still is “It has to be my way, everyone else is wrong and I am always right.” The creator of this idea in the City of Rochester and Monroe County, the one who rose to power in the 70’s and 80’s, the one who bullies everyone he wishes without recourse? That person is none other than Assemblyman David Gantt. Gantt is the downfall of our area, above and beyond what Albany does to us….sorry; he is also part of that monster that we call New York State Government. Gantt has put up more road blocks to cooperation than the police that chased Bonnie and Clyde. If he really wanted apparel that reflected who he is, he would buy a jacket with a stop sign on the back. I charge that any elected official that bends to Gantt’s wants, shouts and antics is in fact not fulfilling their duty that they swore to uphold and they DO NOT deserve your vote.
Anonymous:
You are quite right about Mr. Gantt. His "achievements" are largely things he has blocked or delayed.
Further, there is no one in our community who is more of an adherent to the identity politics that have set suburbanites off against residents of the City of Rochester.
Repoman;
I wrote the first comment.
Just let me say that there are city dwellers that are not followers of Gantt or his party. We live in the city because we love the city, we just don't agree with the politics. I think that the separation would be better described as, blind followers of Gantt vs. those whom think for themselves.
Simon:
Welcome to Blogger.
It is a long way from the days of Morin-Ryan, isn't it?
Never has a candidate gone so far while saying so little.
Well, not since the '04 Bush/Cheney campaign, at least.
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